The 25 Most Stylish Movies of All Time

Year Released: 1960
Directed By: René Clément
Starring: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt, Erno Crisa

From his first outfit of a blue oxford cloth button-down shirt, white denim, and brown suede horsebit loafers, Alain Delon and the supporting cast portray a romantic version of traditional American clothing with more class and elegance than the film's 1999 remake, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Year Released: 1975
Directed By: Sydney Pollack
Starring: Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow

This was Redford at his peak: his long shaggy hair with bushy sideburns perfectly complimented the bold aviator sunglasses and wide-lapelled herringbone tweed jacket he wore through much of the film. This film perfectly embodies the civilian's take on Vietnam-era naval style (peacoats and chambray utility shirts) which saw a resurgence about a decade ago.

Year Released: 1963
Directed By: John Sturges
Starring: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson

Many people would list Bullitt as Steve McQueen's most stylish film, but true devotees of the style icon would agree The Great Escape takes the cake. McQueen easily killed it in casual clothing because that's what he wore in his own life on a daily basis. From the all star cast to McQueen's famous motorcycle jump, it's obvious why so many Japanese heritage brands and magazines have referenced the film.

Year Released: 1980
Directed By: Paul Schrader
Starring: Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina van Pallandt

The style in this film preceded nearly every trend in men's suiting and sportswear for the two decades that followed it's release, and owes it all to the genius of Armani. One of many great films inspired by Italian style, it features the buttonless belted trench, a Cucinelli-esque DB, and what was at the time a more modern suit silhouette with low slung lapels, padded shoulders, and pleated pants. While much of the fashion has since gone out of style, the chambray shirt, quarter zip pullover, and overall luxurious take on business casual have lingered as mainstays of business professionals who lived through that era.

Year Released: 1970
Directed By: Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring: Alain Delon, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonté, Yves Montand

Arguably one of the coolest crime thrillers, it features a mustachioed Delon as a master theif in a desolate world of men who live by their own rules. Delon's appearance is criminal only in how well he pulls off the moustache with a traditional business attire of a charcoal wool suit, white shirt and dark tie neatly wrapped up in his classic tan belted trench coat. The look is nothing extraordinary which seems to prove the exception to the rule that the clothing makes the man.

Year Released: 1962
Directed By: Terence Young
Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Bernard Lee, Joseph Wiseman

The most stylish of Connery's Bond films, back when nearly everything was bespoke. His shirts feature the Bond-signature turnback cuffs and he wears classic solid suiting, ties, and sportswear through the entire film in a palette of pale blues, navy, and of course black and white for the slim shawl tuxedo and bow tie. It's also very amusing that the villains always wore some solid suit with a Nehru jacket in the old 007 films, but for them it typically worked in reflecting their stark character.

Year Released: 1999
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Henry Silva, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman

Forest sports a cozy wardrobe of black and navy blue pieces, including a nice M-65 jacket. RZA's guest appearance in a camo BDU is great too (Every hood has at least one dude who's camo down to his boxers). But the highlight and overarching theme of this film is the fusion of ancient samurai methodology with the everyday struggles of a man who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

Year Released: 1963
Directed By: Federico Fellini
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Anouk Aimée, Claudia Cardinale

Fellini's masterpiece captures the passionate qualities of black and white style as only Yohji Yamamoto could understand better. In a suit cut with volume and flair to rival Tom Ford's eponymous line, Mastroianni is the definition of cool. Watching this film, there's no wonder as to why Robert Geller named a pair of frames after Marcello's iconic pair.

Year Released: 1989
Directed By: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Masatoshi Nagase, Youki Kudoh, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Cinqué Lee

This blues pilgrimage to Memphis is a quintessential transnational film representing an ideal blend of two cultural points: American blues & Japanese youth. Jim Jarmusch's first color film features leather jackets, red suits, one gelled curl, big belt buckles, stripped shirts and cigarettes in motels. This exploration into the blues serves as an prime example of how music directly affects style.

Year Released: 1995
Directed By: Larry Clark
Starring: Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny

The boldly controversial 1995 film Kids enveloped the idea of urban youth life meets the brazen skateboarding culture of New York. With 90's art stars Larry Clark & Harmony Korine, a window was opened into nature of man in rumbustious, hectic times. This film would help the New York skater enter the world of mainstream street wear.

Year Released: 1979
Directed By: Walter Hill
Starring: Michael Beck, James Remar, Dorsey Wright, Brian Tyler

After being panned by critics and deemed a cult film, The Warriors continues to return to light because of the striking visual landscape Walter Hill instilled into the film. The varying street gangs highlight almost every denomination of youth in New York, from killer baseball-inspired costuming to the minimalist two-tone styling of the Orphans, the film, though missing the mark in meaning, makes up for it in gritty, universal styling.

Year Released: 1969
Directed By: Dennis Hopper
Starring: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Antonio Mendoza

When analyzing the many branches of Americana, you must discuss Easy Rider and it's steadfast influence on the everyman's wardrobe. The late 1960's road film encapsulates the rise and fall of a truly free-spirited style decade and the stirrings of change. The counterculture hero was born, riding the fine line between iconic and satire, bringing forth stars & stripes, motorcycle gloves & boots, treated leather and Jack Nickelson's white desert suit.

Year Released: 1974
Directed By: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton

Back when Pacino still had a wholesome look, this film took the good and the bad from Italian-American style and made it all look just as good. While Pacino shines in his three piece suit and even sports an ascot in one scene, it's the later flashbacks of De Niro as the young Don Vito that are the most classic. With his newsboy cap and single breasted overcoat, it's a timeless style that's attainable for every man.

Year Released: 1991
Directed By: John Singleton
Starring: Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Larry Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long and Angela Bassett

Lets see, we've got the baggy jeans, chambray shirt, and plenty of crew neck tees, sweatshirts and snapbacks to go around. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s basketball jersey over a white T is a classic. This film not only showcased the struggles and triumphs of everyday life in Black America, but also the style that would influence a generation.

Year Released: 1972
Directed By: Gordon Parks Jr.
Starring: Ron O'Neal, Carl Lee, Sheila Frazier, Julius Harris

We must thank Superfly for familiarizing the world to the wonders of the pimp; long coats, vivid full tones, loads of accessories and customization which seeped into the production of cars as well. And menswear bloggers are still trying to find Priest's hats for their closets.

Year Released: 1968
Directed By: Lindsay Anderson
Starring: Malcolm McDowell

What is it about stories of rebellious youth that makes them so appealing? This one is a straightforward representation of 60's English boarding school style: uniforms with starched white shirts, slim black ties and school colors. The fun really starts when Malcolm's character Mick steals a motorbike straight from a showroom floor and rides off on it. Tell us that ain't sprezzatura.

Year Released: 1994
Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Sadie Frost, Jude Law, Sean Pertwee, Fraser James

Jude Law plays a disenchanted teen with a strong case of kleptomania in a British city of the near future. He and his gang of adrenaline junkies commit crimes for the fun of it and their outfits of mostly black leather and denim reflect their wild and rebellious attitude.

Year Released: 1991
Directed By: Mario Van Peebles
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Allen Payne, Chris Rock

GOLD ALL IN MY CHAIN. But seriously, this movie had it all: heavy gold chains, the hoop earring, wayfarer shades, newsboy caps, double-breasted suits galore, and plenty of the ever popular black and blogger blue color palette. Wesley Snipes carried the film, playing one of the most G'd up mob bosses in history.

Year Released: 1965
Directed By: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina

A brilliantly colorful film for the French New Wave era of cinema. Both Jean Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina boast a magnificent wardrobe through the various stages of this film, from his pearl grey tropical wool suit and vibrant collared shirts to her various a-line dresses and casual tomboyish outfits. Their outfits act as an extension of their character, serving to intensify the effects of their acting perfomance and keep the viewer's eye drawn to their movements. A triumphant if unintentional tribute that truly represents the best of mid-century style.

Year Released: 1994
Directed By: Wong Kar-Wai
Starring: Tony Leung, Faye Wong

Faye Wong is the epitome of why we love short haired ladies. Her cropped hair and quirky antics make her the archetypal manic pixie dream girl. However, the true style of this feature shines through in its cinematic qualities, which we can attribute to the genius of Wong Kar-Wai. The dream-like cinematography and unerring casting and wardrobe allowed viewers to fully suspend disbelief and transport themselves into the lives of the characters.

Year Released: 1953
Directed By: Laslo Benedek
Starring: Marlon Brando

An American archetype was born with Marlon Brando and mainstream bike film The Wild One. The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club led by Johnny Strabler manifested and introduced major American classics to the populous: long sideburns followed by James Dean and Elvis Presley, Perferto-style motorcycle jackets and Triumph motorcycles which even created a range of clothing and promotional items inspired by Brando's image from The Wild One. Even though there are several other fantastic biker films that also came out before and around the same time as this film, The Wild One captivated the nation to embrace the rebel.

Year Released: 1993
Directed By: David M. Evans
Starring: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi

Sneakers, denim, crewneck tees and ballcaps. Wherever you grew up these were no doubt staples of your wardrobe before you were even paying attention to that sort of thing. The only time anyone was concerned with what they were wearing was when Rodriguez confronted the Beast—and who couldn't help wanting a pair of PF Flyers after watching that scene?

Year Released: 1971
Directed By: Gordon Parks
Starring: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John

Even though Saturday Night Fever and the Bee Gees helped galvanize the 70's style formula, the works of an ambitious artist, Gordon Parks, paved a way for a distinct cultural niche that still continues to grow to this day: blaxploitation. Shaft [also named by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"] displayed a true mastery in outerwear, drawing inspiration from Black Panthers garb in an array of leather jackets that helped transcend the empty spaces between stereotypes, influencing facets of pop culture from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Taratino's work on Django Unchained. And who doesn't love a dude who could pull off a turtleneck and still look like a boss?

Year Released: 1989
Directed By: Spike Lee
Starring: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson

Here is a simple equation demonstrating why Do The Right Thing should be on this list: Barbara Kreuger's work + Nike + gold + the hottest summer on record = Supreme x bloggers x Nike exclusives x B, when B is greater than or equal to the amount of times this film appears on best of lists. It is in the Library of Congress for being "culturally significant." Yeah, enough said.

Year Released: 1995
Directed By: Mathieu Kassovitz
Starring: Vincent Cassel

What can be considered a pivotal film in terms of current waves in commercial and runway fashion, La Haine echoes the times of the tumultuous 90's with a deep appreciation for a staple leather jacket. From the loose fit clothing, to the tiny chains, vivid windbreakers, high tops and love for Carhartt with an unabashed flair, La Haine captures a crucial transnational moment in style that revels in the prestige of Spike Lee's work and transformed streetwear forever.